Mostar Sevdah Reunion

The melancholy of excitement

The BBC has compared Mostar Sevdah Reunion to Buena Vista Social Club—a flattering comparison, and one that is entirely fitting. Their music—sevdah—touches everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sevdah here is, like rivers and mountains, a part of everyday life. It is a musical style unique to this country, born from a fusion of Ottoman melancholy with Sephardic, Oriental, and European rhythms. The emotion and nostalgia carried by sevdah evoke a longing for times when people lived more simply and loved more deeply.

Regardless of which part of Bosnia and Herzegovina they come from, people inevitably fall into sevdah when spontaneous group singing begins—something that almost always marks the start of a Mostar Sevdah Reunion concert. It is simply impossible to remain indifferent to the sound and energy of this band. Mostar Sevdah Reunion strives to unravel the mystery of sevdah and bring audiences a new interpretation of what many have called the “Balkan blues.”

Finding the perfect balance between diverse musical elements and the heritage of the ancient Ottoman civilization is no small challenge. Producer and manager Dragi Šestić was the first to conceive the idea of forming a sevdah band. During the war that devastated their hometown of Mostar, a group of friends decided to record an album to share with family and friends. They vowed to take sevdah around the world. Later, Dragi brought together a group of outstanding musicians who at the time could not have imagined that Mostar Sevdah Reunion would captivate not only Bosnia and Herzegovina, but audiences worldwide.

Their first album was recorded in 1999 at the Pavarotti Center in Mostar. By 2001, the group was joined by Šaban Bajramović, one of the greatest performers of Romani music. They then recorded two albums with Ljiljana Buttler, the queen of Romani soul. It was only in 2007, while recording the album Café Sevdah, that they discovered their current lead vocalist, Nermin Alukić.

Mostar Sevdah Reunion continues to enchant audiences across the continent, though their most devoted fans remain at home. In 2010, they recorded an album with Mladen Vojčić Tifa, former vocalist of the legendary rock band Bijelo Dugme, as well as Halid Bešlić, a legend of folk music, and Hari Varešanović—adding yet another new dimension to their interpretations of sevdalinka songs.

Although there is no doubt that people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are sociable and joyful by nature, their music has always been infused with sadness. In this sense, the words of music critic Ognjen Tvrtković perhaps best capture the essence of Mostar Sevdah Reunion’s music:

“There is something deeply tragic about Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a world that is closed, yet at the same time beautiful and full of hidden shadows that reveal themselves through the poetry, melody, and performance of sevdalinka.”